VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

The Indonesian diaspora could help the government develop the country’s human capital, Indonesian Foreign Affairs Minister Retno LP Marsudi has said. "Now, how could the Indonesian Government collaborate with the diaspora? The diaspora could become agents of Indonesian human capital development," the minister said here Saturday in her opening remarks during the Fifth Congress of Indonesian Diaspora (CID-5).

The Indonesian Government has decided to prioritize human resources development (HRD) during the next five years, and the diaspora makes up a significant component of this, she noted.

"HRD will become a priority of the Indonesian Government. I quote the President as saying that human resources development is a key for the Indonesian development in the future. Besides, there is an instruction from the President to support the Indonesian diaspora," she said.

To involve the diaspora in human capital development in Indonesia, there should first be a database on them and their skills.

With the help of the database, it would be easy to locate and identify experts from among the diaspora that could help develop education and particularly vocational schools in the country.

The three-day CID-5 is being organized in Jakarta, beginning Saturday, August 10 and concluding August 13, 2019. "The theme of this year's conference is 'Empowering Indonesia's Human Capital', Indonesian Diaspora Network Global (IDN-Global) President Mark Gerald Eman, said during a press conference in Jakarta Monday, August 5.

The theme was chosen keeping in mind the fact that human resource development is the key to Indonesia's future.

The theme was also in line with President Joko Widodo's instructions regarding human resources and the development of the diaspora, Deputy Chairman of IDN Global Said Zaidansyah, stated.

"One of the main agendas of the Diaspora Congress is the development of human resources in accordance with the instructions of President Joko Widodo during his remarks in Sentul where he also highlighted the issue of human resource development," Zaidansyah said.

The congress could provide a platform to discuss the issues and challenges related to human resources in Indonesia and the challenges they face.

The conference is expected to be the biggest meeting of the Indonesian diaspora and as many as 5,000 are expected to attend the event.